Violet Crown Trail
City Council District 8
Project Summary
The City of Austin and the Hill Country Conservancy have partnered to develop the Violet Crown Trail system. The Violet Crown Trail begins at the Barton Creek Greenbelt entrance at Zilker Park and, once complete, will extend 30 miles south into Hays County. The Mile Zero Trailhead at Zilker Park is now open. The current project the Gateway Trailhead, a 13-mile trail extension from the new trail in Circle C Park to Hays County, currently under construction.
Background
In 2006 Hill Country Conservancy (HCC) began planning a regional trail system, originally called the Walk for a Day Trail, with the aim of creating the first regional trail system in Central Texas. The goal of the project was to provide a unique recreational experience through urban wildlands, greenbelts, parkland, public rights-of-way and water quality lands. Along its route, the trail will connect scenic natural areas to neighborhoods, shopping centers, a library, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Once complete, the 30-mile trail will be the longest trail of its kind in Central Texas.
Gateway Trailhead
Construction began on the 13-mile trail extension from Circle C Park to Hays County in Fall 2025. This segment of the trail is expected to be complete in Summer 2026.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact Austin Parks and Recreation Project Manager, Beth Larkin by email or by calling (512) 974-9513.
- Trail Map
Completed Projects
Through a Parkland Improvement Agreement, Hill Country Conservancy has led the design, permitting, and construction of a new trailhead for the Violet Crown Trail in Zilker Park and Barton Creek Greenbelt. The project received its permit in January 2022. Improvements to the site include a Mile Zero entry feature, meadow pavilion, observation deck and overlook, stabilized decomposed granite trail, meadow enhancements, bike racks, educational signage, and improved crosswalk and ADA access.
The trailhead opened to the public in the Fall of 2025.
Funding was being provided through Hill Country Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation, and City of Austin Parkland Dedication funds.
Community engagement for the Zilker Trailhead began in the fall of 2017 and ended in November 2018.
- Concept Boards (PDF)
- Public Engagement Report (PDF)
Hill Country Conservancy, in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation, completed the 1.7 miles of Violet Crown Trail (VCT) in the Circle C Metropolitan Park, east of Mopac. The trail continues and connects to the trails within the park west of Mopac and the Violet Crown trail where it crosses Slaughter Creek to terminate at La Crosse Ave. This new section of trail is 10 feet with a decomposed granite surface to accommodate multiple uses. The VCT is planned to continue through City parkland, an easement on the Wildflower Center property and then City of Austin Water Quality land as a nature trail to complete the 30-mile regional trail system. Information on other available trails in Circle C Metropolitan Park, Dick Nichols District Park and other city parks can be found at Trail Directory | AustinTexas.gov. The work was completed in 2024.
This trail connection continues the Public Works trail through Dick Nichols Park to Davis Lane. Austin Parks and Recreation built the north portion, and HCC built the south portion connecting to Davis Lane. Portions of the trail are stabilized decomposed granite and portions are concrete to address water flow and potential erosion. HCC designed, funded, and installed the trail signage and map kiosks. This work was completed in 2019.
Hill Country Conservancy continued the trail connection from Slaughter Lane to Slaughter Creek in the Slaughter Creek Greenbelt. Work included two low-water bridge crossings. The work was completed in 2019.
Through the Public Works Neighborhood Partnering Program, Hill Country Conservancy received a grant for an urban trail connection from Davis Lane to sidewalks along Sendera Mesa Drive which then lead to W. Slaughter Lane sidewalks. The work was completed in 2016.
Work included a 6-mile extension of the existing greenbelt nature trail in the Barton Creek Greenbelt to connect to a new trailhead in Sunset Valley at the Hwy 290 entrance. HCC designed and installed the trail mile markers and wayfinding signs through an Austin Parks Foundation grant. Work was completed in August 2015.
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Kiosk at the trailhead at Sunset Valley/Hwy 290, part of the Barton Greenbelt extension.
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Trail through Dick Nichols District Park.
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Trail through Circle C Metro Park.